Silicones That Work

Do you buy military and aerospace silicones? Then consider the true costs of meeting AA 59588, MIL-DTL-25988, AMS, and other specifications. If you’re buying these materials based on price alone, you could be putting projects at risk. Choosing a cheaper compound might seem like a good way to control costs, but what if you’re assuming a level of compliance that doesn’t really exist?  Until recently, silicone buyers could expect low prices for the raw compound used in these [...]

Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) supplies flex fatigue resistant silicones that are fully tested to AA 59588 Classes 3A and 3B from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). AA 59588, an aerospace and military standard, supercedes ZZ-R-765 and contains six alphanumeric classes. Each AA 59588 class describes material properties, but only Classes 3A and 3B include requirements for flex fatigue resistance – a measure of an elastomer’s ability to withstand repeated flexing and [...]

Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) submitted samples of two 40-durometer military / aerospace silicones to independent ISO 17025 accredited test laboratories. These samples were tested against commercial and military standards.  SSP-220 met the physical and mechanical requirements of A-A-59588, Class 2A and 2B, Grade 40. SSP-267 met MIL-DTL-25988C, Type 2, Class 2, Grade 40 physical requirements. The following sections describe the products and summarize the test results.  [...]

Important: This article contains additional information about SSP's flex-fatigue resistant silicones. Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) has developed a 50-durometer silicone that meets the full requirements of A-A-59588, Class 3A, Grade 50. The elastomer, SSP-2523-T, combines low-temperature resistance with high tear strength and flex-fatigue resistance. SSP-2523-T is supplied as uncured ready-to-mold compounds, compression-molded sheets, and continuous rolls for gasket fabrication. A-A-59588, [...]

Important: This article contains new information about SSP's product offerings. Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) supplies 50, 60, and 70 durometer silicones that meet the full requirements of the A-A-59588 3B specification – with no exceptions for flexural testing. Other suppliers may claim to meet this requirement, but industry-wide compliance has been inconsistent. The 50, 60, and 70 durometer silicones that SSP supplies have been tested and certified to the full A-A-59588 3B [...]